EAST GREENBUSH -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer paid a visit to members of the Joint Technical Rescue Team on Wednesday to personally extend his gratitude for the work they did in Long Island in response to Superstorm Sandy.

The Joint Rescue Team, which is comprised of members from the Clinton Heights, East Greenbush, Melrose and Poestenkill Fire Departments, met with Schumer at the Clinton Heights Fire Department. First, Schumer took a tour of some of the rescue equipment the team used while it was on Long Island, most of which was purchased using funds from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which Schumer helped to create.

He then took to the podium where he spoke of the tactical team's courage and its members' willingness to help people away from their hometowns during the storm in an effort to save lives.

"Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, partially because I was born on Thanksgiving Day, but it's something special," Schumer explained. "It's particularly special because we give thanks to our creator but we also give thanks to our family, our friends and to our brave troops and, of course, our brave first responders. I have always said our soldiers and our volunteer firefighters have something in common; they both volunteer and risk their lives to make us safe."

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He spoke highly of all volunteer firefighters, thanking them for their help not only during Sandy but also during Tropical Storms Irene and Lee. He noted they made 31 swift water rescues during Sandy in addition to the 121 rescues made during the two previous storms that hit New York State.

"In the Capital Region, we have some of the finest volunteer fire departments and rescue departments, not just in New York State, but in the country," Schumer said. "The firefighters standing here with me went above and beyond the call of duty. They volunteered to respond before, during and after Sandy devastated parts of downstate New York."

Members of the rescue team said they also had something to be thankful for as Clinton Heights Assistant Fire Chief Seth Tracy said he was thankful his family was safe from the storm and all of his men made it back safely.

He said his team was stationed in a fire house located on Long Island's North Shore. When water began rising, even reaching eight feet in some areas around them, the crew's concerns quickly turned to making certain that its equipment wouldn't get washed away.

"We were getting nervous we would have to rescue ourselves," Tracy explained. "Losing our equipment and not being able to help anyone else was the concern."

Tracy said he and the rest of his crew did their best to make sure their families back home were aware they were safe since it could be difficult watching the storm on the news and hearing all of the horror stories. So when they had some cell service, they made sure to let their families know they were fine.

"We did our best to reassure them we were okay," Tracy said.

Members of the team said it was shocking to see the destruction caused by the storm. Rescuers Ron Stark and Jason Deyette said it was difficult to describe the amount of damage they witnessed caused not only by the heavy rainfall, but also high winds.

"There was an unbelievable amount of damage done," Stark said. "They say it was water, but there was more power behind it. Families were displaced by either minor water damage or their whole house being gone."

While the team's members were pleased that Schumer came to visit to let them know that their work has not gone unnoticed, they say it's not his gratitude that has biggest effect on them.

"It's good to know that all of the training we do doesn't go unnoticed," Deyette said. "But it's more fulfilling seeing the people we've rescued and how happy they are."